RealSurf Surfers' Forum

Does anyone have experience travelling for surf with a vehicle in Michoacán state?

Looking to get away from the mainstream tourist destinations visiting the stretch between Manzanillo and Ixtapa though travel advisories say to flat out not to Colima, Guerrero, or Michoacán.

Been the the Baja a couple times, San Pacho, Sayulita, San Blas.

Spent a couple of weeks with mates in a shack on the beach at Rio Nexpa in Michoacán.
Cheap.
Solid river mouth surf, pretty much guaranteed offshore wind down from the hills every morning.

Gnarly beheadings, heaps of young men armed with automatic weapons manning roadblocks. Guess that's why so many are traveling north to the US to get the hell outta there.

Sounds great. What’s the chance of a beheading vs a head dip?

And head jobs?

Nothing comes close to the feeling of being cremated in the back of a hire car after being beheaded.

I had a great time there in 2007.
Surfed Nexpa and Pascuales.

Yuke Hunt wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 09, 2024 6:06 pm

Nothing comes close to the feeling of being cremated in the back of a hire car after being beheaded.

Only a gringo knows the feeling.

buddy wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 09, 2024 6:31 pm

I had a great time there in 2007.
Surfed Nexpa and Pascuales.

Did you stay in one of the little hovels right on the beach?
There weren't mints on the pillow when we arrived, but a solid brick of weed. And the toilet didn't work.

I have a friend who has been going to la ticla for years never felt unsafe though has heard some interesting stories and also doesn't rent a vehicle and mostly stays in and around one area.

Kulharin wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 10, 2024 2:43 am

I have a friend who has been going to la ticla for years never felt unsafe though has heard some interesting stories and also doesn't rent a vehicle and mostly stays in and around one area.

Yeah, it's the gangs killing each other. Roadblocks with 18 yr olds in fatigues and M16's checking identification were unusual. Surf can get really heavy but seems like it's consistent. Always something to ride.

If I went in the Spring I'd likely fly into Ixtapa and head north to Troncones, La Saladita and maybe Nexpa. If I went in the Fall/Winter I'd likely fly into Manzanillo and head south to La Ticla, and maybe Nexpa plus a couple beaches in between.

The area certainly seems far more remote and sketchy than Baja Sur and Nayarit but it also looks stunning and I've heard many positive things.

offshore1 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 10, 2024 2:26 am

buddy wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 09, 2024 6:31 pm

I had a great time there in 2007.
Surfed Nexpa and Pascuales.

Did you stay in one of the little hovels right on the beach?
There weren't mints on the pillow when we arrived, but a solid brick of weed. And the toilet didn't work.

Yeh, I think so.
My mate had gastro and you could see his feet rise under the curtain each time it exploded out of him.
Fortunately our toilet worked.

The coastal highway is not too sketchy if you avoid driving at night?

Listed accommodation seems a bit sporadic between Manzanillo and Ixtapa

Driving up to Nexpa from Ixtapa I got pretty turned around and confused for a bit in Lazaro Cardenas. All in all not too bad though. Go for it Kulharin.

I think we got dropped off somewhere random outside tecoman and hitchhiked in the tray of some guys ute to Pascuales with our board bags.

Went to Colima city for a day.
These two locals on a motorbike drove up close to us and said “fuck you American motherfuckers!”.

I’m Canadian so I guess that wont be a problem.

I’d likely fly into Manzanillo. Spend a night or two in barra de navidad. Then head down to La Ticla for a week, then maybe Nexpa. Alternatively fly into Ixtapa n spend time around Troncones and Saladita then maybe up to Nexpa.

Seems odd to me La Ticla seems to have no accommodation advertised online compared to all the others.

Trip would be early April or mid November.

I’m Australian so I thought it was funny.